Combined timer and actuating means



vNov. 11, 1947. K. E. BEMIS 2,430,444

: COMBINED TIMER AND ACTUATING MEANS Filed March 1, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented Nov. 11, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED TIMER ANDACTUATIN G MEANS Ken E. Bemis, Oakland, Calif. Application March 1,1946, Serial No. 651,393

24 Claims. 1

This invention, a combined timer and actuating means, is an improvementover various timing devices particularly where operations are to becarried outv or completed Within specific time elapse periods, and wherea final phase of the operation is to be carried out under controlledactuation free from shock or sudden impact. This timer is specificallydesigned for conditions where the same time interval is required foreach cycle of operations, and particularly where a number of operationsare carried out in stages, in series, or at will, at different points,and with the same or varying time requirements for the various stages,since a whole series of timers for the respective stages can be operatedby a single driving means, with each timer operating independently ofall others and ready for instant operation.

In considering its adaptability, a single shaft with a single drivingmeans, may have a number of these timers operable thereon, and with eachtimer controlling some specific cooking, frying, or baking process, eachrequiring a different timeelapse period, such as one for frying eggs,another for steaks, another for deep-frying potatoes, with eachoperation exactly timed independently of the others, and each manuallyactuable at will independently of the others, irrespective of the factthat all are operable by the same'shaft being driven at onepredetermined speed.

This timer is so arranged that by selection of the correct timingelement the time-elapse period is arranged to suit the specificoperation. For each type of food preparation the time element ispredetermined, and therefore changes of timing elements or adjustmentsof the timer are never required. However, this interchangeability isdesirable in case that at some future time, a different operation is tobe substituted at some given stage. Another advantage exists in the factthat all of the timers for a specific set up can be arranged on thedriving shaft, with the exception of the timing discs, and after thetime periods have been determined for the various operations, thecorrect timing discs can be applied.

The operation of this timer is different than conventional timers, inthat though it is controlled by a continuously rotating shaft, there isno operation of the timer until a lever is depressed, and that it onlyoperates through the specific time period, and that the lever remains inits depressed position until the time period has elapsed and is thenraised to its initial position at an easy and shockless speed, so thatany element carried by the lever will not be vibrated or shocked tocause displacement of material carried by the element. Furthermore, thetimer is non-adjustable and therefore not subject to error in setting.

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:

First, to provide a timer which will consistently measure apredetermined time elapse period, and

after completion of the time elapse period will actuate the device beingtimed and reset itself following actuation ready for the next operation.

Second, to provide a timer as outlined which is actuated by acontinuously and uniformly driven shaft, is non-adjustable and thereforepositive as to exact duplication of time-elapse periods.

Third, to provide a timer as outlined which cannot be manually operatedor adjusted to vary the time-elapse period.

Fourth, to provide a timer as outlined which is particularly adapted tothe timing of cooking, baking and similar operations where specifictemperatures are used and maintained.

Fifth, to provide timing means of a type in which any number of timingdevices can be mounted on a single shaft and driven by a single sourceof power, and with the respective timing devices separately arranged asto time-elapse 1 period and degree of actuation of the device beingtimed, and in which the respective devices being timed are separatelycontrollable and actuable.

Sixth, to provide a timing device which can be remotely located relativeto the driving means and which includes no gearing or other speedreducing mechanism to collect dust, grease or other substances tointerfere with accurate timing.

Seventh, to provide a timing device with means for actuating the deviceto be timed thereby, and which actuating means is controllable foractuation at the completion of a specific time elapse period and thetime of actuation thereafter to the termination of the cycle can bearranged to suit the specific operation to be carried out.

Eighth, to provide a timing device as outlined in which manual operationof a single element sets the timing device in operation to carry out thespecific time and operating cycle, with the single element beingautomatically reset for the next operation at the completion of a cycle.

Ninth, to provide a timin device as outlined which is of the simplestpossible construction, with a minimum number of parts, convenient andeasy to operate, and devoid of any speed-changing or time adjustingmechanism.

In describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the invention shown partly in section andshowing the timing disc in reset position,

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through the invention taken on line 22of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the stop-andreset member mounting.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View showing the relation of the various partsof the timer at the start of an operating cycle.

Fig. 5 shows the relative positions of the timing wedges and grooves atthe start of an operating cycle.

Fig. 6 shows the position of the timing wedges and grooves at thecompletion of the timing cycle and the start of the actuating cycle forthe device operated thereby.

Fig. 7 is a face View of the timing disc and shows how change in thetime elapse period is produced.

Fig. 8 is a greatly reduced view showing the arrangement of timingdevice and driving means, as applied to various cooking and fryingdevices such as the broiler covered by my Patent No. 2,300,768, issuedNovember 3, 1942.

Fig. 9 shows a method of mounting the interchangeable timing disc.

The invention consists essentially of a timer which is mounted on acontinuously rotating shaft, and which includes actuating means foractuating the device to be timed, and which actuating means upon manualor other external operation starts a timing cycle at the expiration ofwhich the actuating means is relatively slowly returned to its originalposition and when this position is reached, the timer ceases operationand i ready for the next cycle. Thus, upon operation of the actuatingmeans such as depression of a lever, the lever will remain depresseduntil the expiration of the time-elapse period for which the timer isarranged, and will then be slowly raised to its original position, thetimer will cease operation until the lever is again depressed, while theshaft continues to rotate.

Referring to the drawings, the timer includes a frame [53 havingbearings II and i2. A shaft I3 is rotatable in these bearings and iscontinuously driven as by a motor [4 through a suitable speed reducingmechanism I5 as indicated in Fig. '7.

A thrust member such as a collar I6 is fixed on the shaft as by a setscrew IT and functions as a thrust member for the compression spring 18which reacts against the cup l9 which is limited in axial movement byand rotatable on the collar 20 which in turn is fixed against axialmovement by suitable means such as the set screw 2 I, a suitablebreather aperture 22 being formed as shown.

An anchor, or stop-and-reset member 23 is anchored against rotation by apin 24 but which pin permits axial movement on the shaft l3 which isrotatable in the member 23, the pin 24 being fixed in an arm 25 which isintegral with or fixed to the base [0, the sleeve l9v having a bearingface 26 thrusting against the outside surface of the stop-and-resetmember. This member 23 has a V-shaped groove 21 formed in its insideface, one groove being sufiicient if the member has a long bearin hub 28as indicated in Fig. 3, but preferably having a pair of diametricallyrelated grooves as indicated in Fig. 5 if no hub is provided on themember, to keep the member from cocking when the timer is beingactuated.

The timing member or disc 29 is provided with one or more timingelements such as the equally spaced V-shaped grooves 30, the number ofwhich is established by the time-elapse and actuating intervals of thetimer, and may consist of any number with any equi-angular spacingaround the disc when a hub is provided on the stop-andreset member asindicated in Fig. 3, or equiangularly spaced in pairs in diametricrelation if the stop-and-reset member is to be retained parallel whenthere is no hub the limits of timing being equal to one revolution andone-half revolution, respectively.

This timing disc may have an integral hub 3! as indicated in Figs. 4 and6, or made interchangeable by being secured on a hub 32 as indicated inFigs. 1 and 2, the latter providing for interchange of timing discswithout havin to disassemble the timer in the event that a differentlytimed operation is to be substituted. Thus all mechanism with theexception of the timing discs, can be assembled, and suitable timingdiscs applied after the time periods of operation have been decided orestablished.

When these timing discs are made interchangeable, they are mountedsomewhat as illustrated in Fig. 9, with a shoulder 33 formed on the hubfor thrust, a pin 34 preventing rotation of the disc on the hub, and thetwo halves 35 and 36 of the disc being secured together by the screws 31which tightly clamp the halves about the hub.

The hub 3| or 32 has a clutch face 38 with a multiplicity of fine teethand a bearing face 39 within the circular series of teeth, and has abore 40 in which the shaft I3 is rotatable, and the hub is axiallyslidable on the shaft.

A clutch collar il has a complementary clutch face 42 with amultiplicity of complementary clutch teeth 43 for engagement with theteeth 44 on the timing disc hub. Mounted in the clutch hub and slidableparallel to the axis of the hub is a plurality of equi-angu-larly spacedplungers 45 each of which terminates rearwardl in a pindle 36 whichoperates through a bore 41 formed through the rear of the hub, while theplunger operates in a counterbore 48 coaxial with the bore. Acompression spring 49 cooperates between the bottom 50 of thecounterbore and the back 5! of the plunger and urges the plunger againstthe face 39 of the timing disc hub.

The clutch is fixed on the shaft 13 as indicated at 52 against both,relative rotational and axial movement.

Located between the stop-and-reset member and the timing disc is theactuating member shown as consisting of two discs 53 and 5t spaced by anintegral hub 55 and with a hollow arm 56 projecting from and integralwith one side of the discs, and at the end of which is shown mounted theupper member 57 of a bacon fryer. Projecting from the outside face ofeach disc is a V-shaped engaging element respectively 5.8 and. 59 toengage in the grooves 2'! and 3-6. As will be noted, the hollow arm 56provides a conduit for the power leads 60 to the electrically heated oroperated devices, such as 51.

Obviously, the actuating member is not limited to operation through alever arm 56; though not shown, operation can easily be arranged througha gear or sprocket mounted on the hub 55 or periphery of the discs 53and 5,4,, depending on the arrangement of the device which is to betimed and actuated. In Fig. 8, the timer is shown connected to thebroiler grid disclosed in my patent previously mentioned.

The operation of the invention is as follows: If diametric lugs 53 and59, and diametric grooves 21 and Bil are provided, the timing will belimited to one-half revolution of the disc 29, so that for each timeinterval, a pair of diametric engaging elements will be required. Ifthese engaging elements engage singly, that is, only one groove 27 forthe stop-and-reset member, and only one wedge member on each side of theactuating member, then the maximum time cycle will be equal to acomplete revolution of the shaft 13. Though the timer will probably beused with diametric engaging elements because of lower cost ofmanufacture and a requirement for less power, the operation for thesingle engaging elements will be explained for purposes of clarity.

Considering the shaft I3 driven by the motor Hi through a speed reducerl5 at a speed of onetenth revolution per minute. The collars l6 and 20,and the clutch collar M will turn with the shaft. As shown in Fig. 1 thetimer is stopped and reset ready for an operation. The engaging members53 and 59 are seated in the grooves 21 in the stop-and-reset'member and3B in the timing disc. The cup i9 is thrusting against the outer face ofthe collar 25 and forcing the stop-andreset member toward the clutchblock while the plungers 55 force the timing disc away from the clutchblock with the plungers riding on the face 39, and the timing disc heldagainst rotation by the lug 59.

With manual depression of the arm 56 to the position indicated in Fig.5, the wedges 58 and 59 ride out of the grooves 21 and Bil, force thestop-and-reset member back against the action of the spring it! withmovement limited by the front face M of the collar 2e, andsimultaneously force the timing disc 29 toward the clutch block to causeengagement of the clutch teeth it and M, as is clearly illustrated inFig. 4. Since the clutch block is continuously driven by the shaft !3,the timing disc is immediately driven in the direction of the arrows 62,with the actuating member remaining motionless in its depressedposition.

If there is only one groove in the timer disc, then no action will takeplace until the groove 36 passes clear around and reaches the wedge 59at Which time the wedge will engage in the groove, with the spring itthrough the cup I9 forcing the stop-and-reset member and the actuatingmember sufficient to force the wedge into the groove whilesimultaneously maintaining the clutch in engagement. This concludes thetime-elapse or time-delay period and would be equal to 360 minus theangle through which the arm 55 was depressed and divided by 360,multiplied by the time for one revolution of the shaft I3. If the arm 56was depressed through an angle of 36 and the time for one revolution ofthe shaft was ten minutes, then the timedelay period would be equal to$X10=9 minutes and with diametric engaging members it would be the lowerof the two grooves which would next engage as indicated in Fig. 6, andthe timeelapse period would be B X 5 4 minutes As the Wedge 59 engagesin the groove 36, the

, timing disc starts returning the arm 56 to its original position withthe wedge 58 riding on the face of the stop-and-reset member a indicatedin Fig. 6 until it reaches the groove 21, but because the cup I9 islimited as to axial movement by the collar 20, it cannot force thestop-andreset member over toward the clutch, consequently the plungers45 through springs 49 force the timing disc away to de-clutch the teeth43, 44 and force the wedge 53 into the groove 21, with all parts againin the position shown in Fig. 1, ready for the next operation. Theactuating time of the lever 58 would be equal to the difference betweenthe total time and the timeelapse period, as previously calculated, oneminute in either case.

For other time periods additional grooves are formed in the timing disc.As shown in Fig. 7, each total cycle would be equal to 60 of movement,or one-and-two-thirds minutes. This time can be divided between thetime-delay period and the actuation period in any desired proportion bylimiting the angular movement of the arm 56, somewhat as indicated inFig. 8, in which the arm is made to lift the grid 63 to a level abovethe range top 64 after the meat 65 has been cooked for a predeterminedperiod of time, the temperature of the range top being accuratelycontrolled so that for a given thickness of steak an exact time ofcooking will be required.

The grid is mounted on a vertical shaft 66 as indicated at 67 and thisshaft has a handle 68 for actuating the timer, the lower end of theshaft 66 being adjustably connected to the arm 56 as indicated at 65.Adjusting means is provided on the arm 56 as indicated at 78 forcooperation with a stop member 1 I.

Consider the timing disc Fig. '7. The total time per cycle would beone-and-two-thirds minutes as previously pointed out, and assume thatone minute was the correct cooking time for the steak, then the liftingtime would be two-thirds minute, so that the manual depression of thearm 56 would be limited to 24, therefore the set screw 10 would beadjusted for this limitation, the adjustment 69 free-d with the lever 56in depressed position so that the grid 63 would lie flat on the rangetop, and then the adjustment 69 made and secured. Thus depression of thelever would be limited to 24 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2,the grid would remain stationary on the range for exactly one minuteafter it was depressed through the medium of the handle 68, and thenwould raise to its highest position in another two-thirds of a minuteand stop, ready for the next operation. The length of the arm can bemade to suit the lift required and the angle through which it must takeplace, or the connection can be made at a different point 12 on the arm.

This arrangement is particularly desirable where all heating and cookingdevices are accurately controlled as to temperature, and with difierentrange areas provided for cooking eggs, steaks, bacon, and similarproducts, and all of which require different times of cooking rangingfrom 45 seconds to a maximum of four minutes. Only one drive shaft withdriving motor is required for a complete lineup, including toasters,wafile irons, steak grills, bacon grills, and the like, with a timer foreach cooking or other processing unit and provided with a disc arrangedfor the established time-elapse period, for which reason 7 consistentand exact timing can always be depended upon.

Since the timer is non-adjustable, the timeelapse period being fixed, noerrors in timing can result as do result with conventional timersthrough improper manual adjustments, and perfect timing is assured.

I claim:

1. A timing device, in combination; a shaft and means for continuouslydriving said shaft at slow speed; supports for said shaft; a memberhaving stop-and-reset means and axially movable relative to said shaft;a timing disc having engageable means for driving by said shaft andhaving said shaft normally freely rotatable therein; actuating meanspivoted on said shaft and movable to two angular positions; engagingmeans on said timing disc, and engaging elements on said actuating meansand cooperatively related to said engaging means and said stop-and-resetmeans with all engaging means and engageable elements in engagement whensaid actuating means is in one position, movement of said actuatingmeans to the other position disengaging said engageable elements andengaging said timing disc with said shaft for rotation therewith; saidtiming disc following a predetermined time period of operation engagingsaid engageable elements and returning said actuating means to itsinitial position, and being disengaged from said shaft when said initialposition is reached through engagement of said engageable elements insaid engaging means and stop-and-reset means.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1; a clutch block fixed on said shaftand a clutch face formed on said timing disc and functioning as saidengageable means, and resilient urging means for normally retaining saidclutch face out of engagement with said clutch block, and moved intoengagement by said engageable elements when said actuating means ismoved to its other position.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1; said actuating means comprising anarm having pivotal support on, said shaft and having oppositelyprojecting Wedges forming said engageable elements, and saidstop-and-reset. means and said engaging means comprising V-shapedgrooves for cooperation Withsaid wedges respectively for limiting thereturn movement of said actuating means: and for returning saidactuating means to its one posttion.

4. A combined timer and power device com-prising; a shaft and means fordriving saidshaft at a uniform slow speed; supports-for said shaft; stopmeans axially movable relative to said shaft and urging means therefor;a timing disc including engageable elements and having a clutch face andsupported on said shaft; a clutch block fixed on said shaft andresilient urging means Luiging said clutch face out of engagement withsaid clutch block; an actuating arm mounted in cooperative relation tosaid stop means and to said timing disc and having engaging meansnormally engaging said stop means and said timing disc, and manuallymovable out of engagement therewith from its initial position to aterminal position, with manual movement thereof engaging said timingdisc with said clutch block, said timing disc, following a predetermineddegree of rotation, engaging said engaging means and returning saidactuating arm to its initial positionwith the engaging means engagingsaid step means to stop movement or the arm and release 8 said timingdisc for disengagement from said clutch block.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4; said timing disc comprising a hubhaving said clutch face formed on one end, and a disc detachably securedon said hub whereby the timing of the device may be changed at willbysubstitution of a disc with a suitable number of equi-angularly spacedengageable elements.

5; A structure as defined in claim 4; said actuating arm being supportedby said shaft and having projecting edges; said stop means and saidtiming disc each having V-sha-ped grooves for co operation with said-Wedges and functioning as the engageable elements and stop means.

7'. A structure as defined in claim 4; said stop means comprising amember having a V-shaped groove, and said timing means having aplurality of V-shaped grooves equi-angularly spaced, and said actuatingarm having projecting Wedges for cooperation with said grooves with saidgrooves and Wedges respectively functioning said step means, engageableelements, and as said engaging means.

8. A structure as defined in claim 4; said step means. comprising amember having a V-shaped groove, and said timing means having aplurality of equi-angularly spaced V-shaped grooves, and said actuatingarm being supported at one end by said shaft and having wedges forcooperation withsaid grooves and having means for connecting the otherend to a device to be operated following the time elapse periodestablished by the speed of the shaft and the number of grooves in saidtiming disc.

9i. A structure as defined in claim 4; said stop means. comprising adisc having said. shaft rotatable therethrough and having a V-shapedgroove formed adjacent the periphery, means retaining said disc againstrotation while allowing axial movement, and resilient urging means forurging said stop means to cooperate with said actuating arm, and meansfor limiting the axial movement thereof, and a Wedge formed on saidactuating arm for cooperation in its initial position with said groove.

10. A combined timing and actuating device comprising; a shaft and meansfor driving said shaft; a stop-and-reset member axially movable andnon-rotatable and supported on said shaft and having an indent formed inone face, and first. resilient urging means cooperating with the otherface and means limiting movement of said resilient urging means; atiming disc having a hub with said' shaft rotatable therein andclutching means on. said hub; a clutch block fixed on said shaft andhaving second resilient urging means urging. said clutching means out ofengagement therewith; equi-angularl spaced indents formed in one face ofsaid timing disc; an actuating arm having one end supported by saidshaft and having attaching. means at the other end for attachment to adevice to be actuated, and having engaging means forengagement with saidindent,

' and sequentially with said equi-angularly spaced indents, with saidfirst and second resilient urging means urging said stop-and-resetmember and said; timing disc against opposite faces of said actuatingarm, and with said arm manually movable from its initial position to asecond poclutch when manually moved to its second position, and with thenext indent on said timing disc engaging said engaging means followingthe time-elapse period established thereby and returning said actuatingarm to its initial position for cooperation of the engaging means withsaid indent in said stop-and-reset member and simultaneously releasingsaid timing disc for retraction for disengagement from said clutch.

11. A structure as defined in claim 10, said stopand--reset membercomprising a stop disc having an axial bore in which said shaft isrotatable, and an arm extending from the periphery and having a secondbore; a base for said timer having an anchor arm and a pin mountedtherein for said second bore to retain said stop disc against rotationwhile allowing axial movement; said resilient urging means comprisingtwo spaced apart collars fixed on said shaft and a cup slidable androtatable on one collar and having a length greater than the collar andWith the open end of the cup bearing against said disc, and acompression spring operating between said cup and the other collar.

12. A structure as defined in claim said indents in said stop-and-resetmember and in timing disc being V-shaped radially from he axis of theshaft, and said engageable'means including a V-shaped member projectingfrom each side of said arm for selective cooperation with said indents,whereby movement of the arm from its initial position will retract theV-shaped members from the V-shaped indents to ride on the plane surfacesof the respective discs and force the timing disc clutch face intoengagement with the clutch block.

13. A structure as defined in claim 10; said timing disc beingdetachably secured on said hub for interchange of discs for changing thetime-elapse period and actuating time at will.

14-. A structure as defined in claim 10; said clutching means comprisinga multiplicity of fine teeth formed in the outer face of said hub andhaving a thrust bearing face within the confines of said teeth, and saidclutch block having a multiplicity of complementary teeth and aplurality of equi-angularly spaced spring-urged plungers cooperatingwith said bearing face for urging said teeth out of engagement.

15. A combined timer and actuating device comprising; a shaft; means fordriving said shaft; an actuating arm having one end mounted on saidshaft and means at the other end for attachment to a device to beactuated and having first and second wedge-shaped members projectingfrom opposite sides; a stop-and-reset member supported by said shaft andnon-rotatable and axially siidable thereon; resilient urging meansurging said stop-and-reset member to cooperate with the firstwedge-shaped member on one side of said actuating arm, and a V-shapedradial groove formed in said stop-and-reset member for cooperation withsaid first wedge-shaped member; a timing disc having a plurality ofequiangularly spaced -shaped grooves for seouential cooperation with thesecond wedgeshaped member on the other side of said arm, and having ahub provided with a multiplicity of fine teeth and having an axial borein which said shaft is rotatable; a clutch block having complementaryteeth and having resilient urging means to urge said teeth out ofengagement and force said timing disc to cooperate with said secondwedge shaped member, and with said wedge shaped members normally engagedin said V-shaped grooves with said arm in initial position; manualoperation of said arm to a second position moving said wedge-shapedmembers out of said V-shaped grooves and thereby forcing said timingdisc axially to engage said teeth to drive said disc, and following apredetermined degree of rotation, the next V-shaped groove in saidtiming disc engages said second wedgeshaped member to drive said armback to its initial position with the first wedge then cooperating withthe groove in said stop-and-reset memher to stop the arm and release thetiming disc for disengagement of the teeth.

16. A timing and actuating device, in combination; a shaft and means forcontinuously rotating said shaft at slow speed; a timing element havingan axial bore with said shaft rotatable therein, and having engageablemeans for engaging said shaft for driving therewith and normallyretainedout of engagement; stop means; an actuating device supported at one endby said shaft and having means at the other end for connection to adevice to be timed and actuated, and normally retained in its initialposition by said stop means and movable through external sources to asecond position; urging means actuated when said actuating device is inother than its initial position for creating and maintaining engagementof said engageable means with said shaft; said timing element havingdriving means cooperatively related to said actuating device andcooperating therewith, following a predetermined degree of rotativemovement creating a timeelapse period, to drive said actuating device toits initial position and thereby release said engageable means, andreset said timing and actuating device for subsequent operation; saidtiming element comprising a disc having a plurality of radially disposedV-grooves equi-angularly spaced for establishing time-elapse periods;said engageable means comprising a hub for said timing disc and having aclutch face provided with a multiplicity of fine teeth, and a clutch hubhaving complementary teeth and fixed on said shaft and havingresiliently actuated means cooperating with said hub to urge said hubaway from said clutch block for disengagement of said teeth; said stopmeans having a V-shaped groove, and said actuating device havingV-shaped projections for cooperation with the groove in said stop meansand with one of the grooves in said timing disc when in initialposition, and creating en gagement of said teeth when the V-shapedprojection is not engaged in the V-shaped groove in said stop means.

17. A timer, in combination; a continuously rotating slow-speed shaft;an actuating arm having one end supported by said shaft; a timing discnormally rotatable relative to said shaft and supported thereby;engaging means for engaging said timing disc for driving with saidshaft; stop means for said actuating arm in its initial position; andmeans associated with and cooperative between said actuating arm, saidstop means, and said timing disc for actuating said engaging means fordriving said disc when said actuating arm is manually angularly movedfrom its initial position, and for returning said actuating arm to itsinitial position following a predetermined degree of one revolution ofsaid timing disc, and releasing said engaging means when said actuatingarm reaches its initial position; said timing dischaving a plurality ofequi-angularly spaced timing elements each consisting of a drivingmember for returning said actuating arm to its initial position, andwith the angular spacing between the timing elements greater than theangular movement of the actuating arm, whereby a time cycle of operationis divided into a timeelapse period until the next driving membercooperates to return the actuating arm, and an actuating period Whilethe driving member returns the actuating arm to its initial position.

1'8. A timer, in combination; a continuously rotating slow-speed shaft;an actuating arm having one end supported by said shaft; a timing discnormally rotatable relative to said shaft and supported thereby;engaging means for engagin said timing disc for driving with said shaft;stop means for said actuating arm in its initial position; and meansassociated with and cooperative between said actuating arm, said stopmeans, and said timing disc for actuating said engaging means fordriving said disc when said actuating arm is manually angularly movedfrom its initial position, and for returning said actuating arm to itsinitial position following a predetermined degree of one revolution ofsaid timing disc, and releasing said engaging means when said actuatingarm reaches its initial position; said engaging means including a clutchface on said timing disc, and a clutch block having a clutch face fixedto rotate with said shaft; and spring urged plungers urging separationof said clutch faces, and with said means associated overcoming theurgence of said plungers and causing engagement between said clutchfaces when said actuating arm is manually moved from its initialposition.

19. A timer, in combination; a continuously rotatin slow-speed shaft; anactuating arm having one end supported by said shaft; a timing discnormally rotatable relative to said shaft and supported thereby;engaging means for engag ing said timing disc for driving with saidshaft; stop means for said actuating arm in its initial position; andmeans associated with and cooperative between said actuating arm, saidstop means, and said timing disc for actuating said engaging means fordriving said disc when said actuating arm is manually angularly movedfrom its init al position, and for returning said actuating arm to itsinitial position following a predetermined degree of one revolution ofsaid timing disc, and releasing said engaging means when said actuat ingarm reaches its initial position; said means associated with said stopmeans and with said actuating arm comprising cooperative wedge elementsfor relative axial movement of the stop means and actuating arm, andwith an operative connection with said engaging means for engagementthereof for driving said timing disc.

20. A timer, in combination; a timing disc; a continuously rotatingslow-speed shaft normally freely rotatable in said timing disc; engagingmeans for engaging said timing disc with said shaft for rotationtherewith; an actuating arm having one end supported by said shaft andmovable through a predetermined angle from and to an initial position;and retaining means for releasably retaining said actuating arm in itsinitial Position; and operative connections associated with andcooperatively related between said actuating arm and said timing discand including said retaining means for actuating said engagin means whensaid actuating arm is moved from its initial position to initiatedriving of said timing disc by said shaft, and for returning saidactuating arm to its initial position by said timing disc followingrotation of said timing disc through a predetermined portion of onerevolution, to divide an operating cycle into two timing periods, one ofwhich is a time-elapse period before actuation of the arm, and the otheran actuating period for returning the arm to its initial position, withthe arm in its initial position releasing said engaging means forrotation of the shaft relative to the timing disc.

21. A structure as defined in claim 20; and means adjustable at will andcooperatively related to said actuating arm for limiting the angularmovement thereof for adjusting the ratio between the two timing periodsand establishing the exact time-elapse period, or the actuating period,at will. i

22. A structure as-deiined in claim 20; said timing disc having aplurality of operative connections for sequential actuation and drivingof said actuating arm to its initial position for dividing eachrevolution of said timing disc into a plurality of operating cyclesindividually initiated by movements of the actuating arm from itsinitial position.

23. A structure as defined in claim 20; said timing disc comprising adisc member and a hub member, and with the disc member replaceable atwill for changing the duration of the operating cycles, said disc havinga plurality of operative connections for sequential actuation anddriving of said actuating arm to its initial position, and with thenumber of operative connections equal to the time required for onerevolution of the timing disc divided by the time required for oneoperating cycle.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,878,888 Rambush Sept. 20, 19322,145,083 Dynes Jan. 24, 1939

